Canada and Quebec support better public transit services for Shebrooke residents

Canada and Quebec support better public transit services for Shebrooke residents

SHEBROOKE, QC, May 18: The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize that investing in public transit infrastructure is crucial to economic growth, reducing air pollution, and creating inclusive communities where everyone has access to public services and job opportunities.

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for Compton‒Stanstead, and Luc Fortin, Member of the National Assembly for Sherbrooke, Minister of Families, and Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region, today announced an investment of over $10.8 million for five projects being carried out by the Societe de transport de Sherbrooke (STS) under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The Government of Canada will provide more than $6 million for these projects and the Government of Quebec will contribute over $4.8 million. The STS will provide the remaining funding.

Among the projects receiving funding are the purchase of hybrid urban buses to maintain the average age of the STS fleet at eight years, as well as the purchase of adapted buses. The STS will also be able to expand and modernize its garage to meet growing needs in terms for refueling, mechanical maintenance and indoor parking spaces.

Once completed, this work will improve the performance, efficiency and reliability of Sherbrooke's transit system, make it more inclusive and allow the STS to meet the community's immediate needs while preparing for anticipated future increases in ridership.

Quotes

Modern efficient public transit infrastructure plays an important role in developing sustainable communities. By investing in Sherbrooke's public transit the Government of Canada is helping to improve residents' mobility and provide key amenities to support economic development in our region.

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for Compton‒Stanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

These investments by the governments of Quebec and Canada, which will support the maintenance, improvement and development of public transit infrastructure in the Capitale-Nationale region. These major investments will contribute greatly to providing families in our region with a more structured efficient public transit system.

Luc Fortin, MNA for Sherbrooke, Minister of Families, and Minister Responsible for the Estrie Region, on behalf of Andre Fortin, Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification

By providing adequate funding for public transit infrastructure, the governments of Canada and Quebec are clearly and unequivocally confirming the central, even indispensable, role it plays in delivering quality service to our users and improving the quality of life of our community.

Marc Denault, President of the Societe de transport de Sherbrooke

Quick Facts

The Public Transit Infrastructure Fund has been funding projects since April 1, 2016. In total, the program is investing more than $1.8 billion in public transit projects. The Government of Canada will contribute up to $923.7 million, and the Government of Quebec, up to $739 million. Municipal governments are also helping fund projects through public transit authorities. The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. $28.7 billion of this funding will support public transit projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Over the next ten years, the Government of Quebec plans to invest more than $100.4 billion through the province's infrastructure plan in health, education and transportation to improve families' quality of life and support innovation and economic growth.